What does “foil” mean?
- 1
verbto stop someone from succeeding in a plan, especially a bad one
Police foiled a plot to rob the bank.
- 2
nounmetal made into very thin sheets, used for wrapping food
Cover the dish with foil and bake for an hour.
- 3
nouna person or thing that makes another seem better or different by contrast
The calm detective is a perfect foil for his hot-headed partner.
Foil at a glance
- Part of speech
- verb & noun
- CEFR level
- C1 (advanced)
- Pronunciation
- /fɔɪl/ · FOYL
How to use “foil” correctly
In literature, a character’s “foil” has opposite qualities that make the main character stand out.
Common phrases with “foil”
- foil a plot
- foil an attempt
- aluminum foil
- a foil for
Synonyms, opposites and related words
Synonyms (similar meaning)
- thwart
- frustrate
- contrast
“foil” is on these word lists
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